Digital tip: claim your office address on Google

Google is helping local businesses generate more sales, so take advantage…

If you’re a local franchise selling a product or service, you should be familiar with Google My Business (GMB).

Keep up to date with the latest What Franchise News sent straight to your inbox. Sign up here.

Just in case you aren’t, GMB simply helps you claim your storefront on Google. Thus, if anyone searches for your franchise business, you’ll show up on the right side on a Google search. Even better, you’ll show up in a dedicated local pack section of a search for a product or service you offer.

Here is where Google has been making some changes, though, and which can mean two things: it can make it easier to generate leads and sales, or can disrupt a brand’s existing foothold in the local area. Now when someone searches for a specific brand’s location, a scroll pack appears underneath, recommending similar businesses in the area.

So, make sure you optimize your GMB listing and take advantage of all the features that help to generate leads, such as ‘Request a quote’, reviews and discount offers. If you need more convincing, a study by Womply uncovered that local businesses that claimed their listings on at least three review sites made 36 per cent more revenue, while those with no online presence on review websites earned 24 per cent less than average. Now, no business’ goal is to make less money, so claim your listing, especially if platforms like Google are offering it up for free.

Keep up to date with the latest What Franchise News sent straight to your inbox. Sign up here.